Main Idea and New Vocabulary
NGSSS
Example 1: Use Shadow Reckoning
Example 2: Use Indirect Measurement
Five-Minute Check
• Solve problems involving similar triangles.
• indirect measurement
MA.8.G.2.1 Use similar triangles to solve problems that include height and distances.
Use Shadow Reckoning
FLAGPOLES A flagpole near a city parking area casts a 22-foot shadow. At the same time, a 3.5-foot-tall parking meter casts a 2-foot shadow. How tall is the flagpole?
Use Shadow Reckoning
Answer: The flagpole is 38.5 feet tall.
Shadow Height
flagpoleparking meter
flagpoleparking meter
22 • 3.5 = 2 • h Find the cross products.
77 = 2h Multiply.
Divide each side by 2.
38.5 = h
A. 6 feet
B. 12 feet
C. 14.8 feet
D. 23.52 feet
SWINGS At the same time a 5-foot tall fence casts a 7-foot shadow, a nearby swingset casts a 16.8 shadow. How tall is the swingset?
LAKES The two triangles shown in the figure are similar. Find the distance across the lake.
Use Indirect Measurement
Write a proportion using the corresponding sides.
10 • 5 = (10 + d) • 2 Find the cross products.
50 = 20 + 2d Multiply. Subtract 20 from each side.
Use Indirect Measurement
Then divide each side by 2.
15 = d
Answer: The distance across the lake is 15 meters.
A. 12 feet
B. 27 feet
C. 30 feet
D. 45 feet
LAKES The two triangles shown in the figure are similar. Find the distance across the lake.
A. 2.1 feet
B. 33.3 feet
C. 75 feet
D. 300 feet
At the same time a 4-foot fencepost casts a 6-foot shadow, a cellular tower casts a 50-foot shadow. How tall is the cellular tower to the nearest tenth foot?
A. 1.5 feet
B. 18 feet
C. 24 feet
D. 66.6 feet
If the man in the picture is 6 feet tall, how tall is the tree?
A. 80 centimeters
B. 100 centimeters
C. 110 centimeters
D. 100 centimeters
A mother and daughter are standing next to each other. The mother is 160 centimeters tall and has a shadow that is 100 centimeters long. The daughter’s shadow is 50 centimeters long. How tall is the daughter?